APA Hotel Akihabara-Ekikita is one of the newer additions to the APA chain — number 332, opened in December 2020 — and it brings a few features that distinguish it from the broader fleet. The standout is the bathroom: every room comes fitted with a Bollina ultra-fine bubble showerhead, designed to deliver smoother skin and shinier hair through microscopic bubbles, paired with APA Hotel’s original egg-shaped bathtub that reportedly saves around 20% of water compared to a conventional tub. These aren’t incidental additions; they’ve become recognisable features of the hotel’s identity. Add a handmade origami crane placed by the pillow at turndown — each folded by staff, not a machine — and the property makes an effort to feel intentional rather than just efficient. At three minutes’ walk from one of Tokyo’s most connected stations, the location case practically makes itself.
Room & Amenities
The standard single room measures approximately 11 square meters — compact by any standard, but opened in 2020 and noticeably clean and well maintained. The layout prioritises the bed (142cm wide) and desk, with a large wall-mounted LCD TV positioned for comfortable viewing from either. The bedside control panel handles lights, air conditioning, and includes a USB 2.0 port for phone charging without hunting for a wall socket. Two pillow types are offered — one firm and supportive for neck alignment, one soft and fluffy — a small detail that makes a practical difference for a good night’s sleep. The desk is wide enough for actual work, with dedicated lighting overhead.
The room comes with a free bottle of mineral water, a deodorising and sanitising spray, an electric kettle, tea sticks, and two types of glassware in the desk drawer. The hair dryer is in the same drawer. A yukata is provided — APA Hotel’s original unisex design in one size, with the hotel logo embroidered on the chest, and genuinely comfortable for lounging. A bed throw is provided for guests who tend to lie on the bed with shoes, keeping the bedding clean. The fridge is turned off by default to save energy but can be switched on. Under-bed storage handles full-size luggage neatly.
The unit bathroom is compact but equipped above expectation. The Bollina showerhead delivers a noticeably smooth water feel — the ultra-fine bubbles are a genuine sensory difference from a standard showerhead. The egg-shaped bathtub, APA Hotel’s proprietary design, is wider and more comfortable than the standard unit bath tub, and its reduced water volume is a thoughtful efficiency detail. The toilet has a bidet function. Amenities include toothbrush, shower cap, razor, hairbrush, hair tie, cotton pads, body towel, shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. Skincare products are not included in the room but are available for purchase from Smart Marche, a small convenience corner next to the front desk.
Dining & Breakfast
Breakfast is not included in the standard room rate. APA Hotel Akihabara-Ekikita offers an add-on breakfast plan at its partner café, Café Veloce, which is available at the time of booking. For those who prefer to arrange their own morning, the Akihabara area is dense with options at every hour and price point — from the Smart Marche at the hotel desk selling drinks and snacks, to the retro kissaten and morning sets available in nearby buildings. Smart Marche also carries cup noodles, making it easy to put together a simple in-room option without leaving the building.
Location & Access
The hotel is a three-minute walk from Akihabara Station’s Showa-dori Exit — about 700 meters along a flat, straightforward route. Akihabara Station handles over 200,000 passengers daily and connects five rail lines: JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Sobu Line (local), Tsukuba Express, and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. In practice, this means central Tokyo is a few stops in any direction — Tokyo Station, Ueno, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi are all within easy reach. The hotel is positioned in a quiet residential pocket slightly removed from the main Akihabara entertainment district, which keeps the immediate surroundings noticeably calmer than the station exit suggests.
Akihabara itself is one of Tokyo’s most distinctive neighbourhoods — the global centre of electronics retail and anime/manga subculture, home to Don Quijote’s cosplay section, Animate, the Gachapon Hall with hundreds of capsule toy machines, Liberty’s used figure stores, Pokémon card vending machines, and the Tsukuba Express’s AKIBA TOLIM building with its own cafés and services. The elevated Metropolitan Expressway runs alongside the hotel’s approach from the station, visible from the street — a useful landmark for orientation on arrival. Note that there are several APA Hotels in the Akihabara area; this one is clearly identified as APA Hotel Akihabara-Ekikita, chain number 332.
Final Verdict
APA Hotel Akihabara-Ekikita represents a strong iteration of the APA formula: a compact, efficiently designed room that punches above its size through smart feature selection. The Bollina showerhead, egg-shaped bathtub, two-pillow system, USB bedside port, and staff-folded origami crane all contribute to a stay that feels more considered than the price point alone would suggest. The location — three minutes from one of Tokyo’s best-connected stations, in one of its most characterful neighbourhoods — is straightforwardly excellent. Breakfast is an add-on rather than included, which is worth noting when comparing rates, but the Smart Marche convenience corner handles basic needs without leaving the building. Rates vary by season — check current prices on Agoda. For solo travelers and anyone heading to Akihabara, this is one of the most well-positioned and well-equipped options in the area.
